diff --git a/build/Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Test.targets b/build/Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Test.targets
index b968033cc..0941fa6c9 100644
--- a/build/Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Test.targets
+++ b/build/Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Test.targets
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
   <Target Name="BuildTests"
           DependsOnTargets="RestoreTests;">
     <DotNetBuild ToolPath="$(Stage0Directory)"
+                 MaxCpuCount="1"
                  ProjectPath="&quot;$(TestDirectory)/Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Tests.sln&quot;" />
   </Target>
 
diff --git a/build_projects/dotnet-cli-build/DotNetBuild.cs b/build_projects/dotnet-cli-build/DotNetBuild.cs
index fbe0dcae4..f11ec52f4 100644
--- a/build_projects/dotnet-cli-build/DotNetBuild.cs
+++ b/build_projects/dotnet-cli-build/DotNetBuild.cs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Build
 
         protected override string Args
         {
-            get { return $"{GetProjectPath()} {GetConfiguration()} {GetFramework()} {GetRuntime()} {GetOutputPath()}"; }
+            get { return $"{GetProjectPath()} {GetConfiguration()} {GetFramework()} {GetRuntime()} {GetOutputPath()} {GetMaxCpuCount()}"; }
         }
 
         public string BuildBasePath { get; set; }
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Build
         public string ProjectPath { get; set; }
 
         public string OutputPath { get; set; }
-        
+
+        public string MaxCpuCount { get; set; }
+
         private string GetOutputPath()
         {
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(OutputPath))
@@ -76,5 +78,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.Build
 
             return null;
         }
+
+        private string GetMaxCpuCount()
+        {
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(MaxCpuCount))
+            {
+                return $"/maxcpucount:{MaxCpuCount}";
+            }
+
+            return null;
+        }
     }
 }